Photos: Funeral held for fallen Metro-East soldier

(KMOV/AP) - A precession for Staff Sgt. Joshua Melton, 26, of Germantown, IL. took place on Thursday. He was killed in Afghanistan by a roadside bomb along with Staff Sgt. Paul Smith, 43, of East Peoria. He returned home Thursday.

Melton was part of the National Guard. His funeral will be this weekend in Carlyle.

The Illinois Army and Air National Guard said Thursday that Smith was promoted posthumously to staff sergeant from sergeant. Smith was with Troop C, 2nd Battalion, 106th Cavalry, based in Aurora.

Visitation for Smith is scheduled for Friday at Remmert Funeral Home in East Peoria. A private funeral service will take place on Saturday.